Long Beach, St. Anthony's Set for Heated Hockey Championship Finale

Long Island high school hockey rivals face off in a spirited championship match.

Mar. 13, 2026 at 12:25am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The high school hockey championship between Long Beach's Marines and St. Anthony's Friars promises to be an emotional finale as the senior players on both teams prepare to take the ice one last time. Long Beach is riding a 13-game win streak into the Nassau finals, while St. Anthony's narrowly defeated rival Smithtown Bulls in a best-of-three series to win the Suffolk County title.

Why it matters

The championship game marks the end of an era for the standout seniors on both teams, many of whom have poured their hearts into their respective programs over the years. The game will be a bittersweet farewell as these players take the ice for the final time in their high school careers.

The details

Long Beach senior captain Michael Calvi has embraced his leadership role, keeping the Marines focused during their impressive win streak. Meanwhile, St. Anthony's senior captain Zack Sirel has helped foster a tight-knit 'Friar brotherhood' on his team, including a pregame ritual of reciting 'The Husker's Prayer.' St. Anthony's assistant captain Tommy Azzaritti is also looking to redeem himself after missing a potential playoff-clinching goal during his sophomore year.

  • The championship game will be played on Saturday, March 15, 2026 at 4 p.m. at the Northwell Health Ice Center.
  • Long Beach went on a 13-game win streak that carried them to the Nassau finals.

The players

Michael Calvi

The senior captain and center for the Long Beach Marines, who has embraced his leadership role and kept the team focused during their impressive win streak.

Joseph Feerick

A senior center for the Long Beach Marines who credits the team's lengthy win streak with helping them grow closer as a unit.

Zack Sirel

The senior captain of the St. Anthony's Friars, who has helped foster a tight-knit 'Friar brotherhood' on his team, including a pregame ritual of reciting 'The Husker's Prayer.'

Tommy Azzaritti

The St. Anthony's Friars assistant captain who is looking to redeem himself after missing a potential playoff-clinching goal during his sophomore year.

Gerrin Hagen

A former Long Beach hockey player who was killed in a car accident at age 18 in 2023, and is remembered fondly by his former teammates.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“It really got us together as a team, and helped us grow.”

— Joseph Feerick, Senior center, Long Beach Marines (New York Post)

“It took a while to know it went in; the ref was just standing there for about 10 seconds. No one thought it went in — and then we got the ref's hand signal and everybody jumped off the bench.”

— Sophie Marino, Backup goalie, Long Beach Marines (New York Post)

“We're on a text thread every night before each game, making sure everybody's getting to bed and doing what they've got to do. This place has built up my confidence in a way I wouldn't have gotten elsewhere … and friendship, kindness to others, you always get that around here. It's never anything different.”

— Zack Sirel, Senior captain, St. Anthony's Friars (New York Post)

“I really wanted to just go in and roof one, but I had to make a few head fakes and just move the puck around a little bit and put it over him. I blacked out after scoring that goal.”

— Tommy Azzaritti, Assistant captain, St. Anthony's Friars (New York Post)

What’s next

The championship game between Long Beach and St. Anthony's will take place on Saturday, March 15, 2026 at 4 p.m. at the Northwell Health Ice Center.

The takeaway

This championship game represents the end of an era for the standout seniors on both the Long Beach Marines and St. Anthony's Friars teams. The players have poured their hearts into their respective programs over the years, forging tight-knit bonds and memorable moments that will stay with them long after their high school careers have ended.